Memorial Cancer Center celebrates grand reopening

Susana Martinez, center, governor of New Mexico, speaks at a ribbon-cutting for the newly expanded Memorial Cancer Center about the cancer treatments her parents received at the hospital, Monday June 11, 2018,(Photo: Josh Bachman/Sun-News)Buy Photo

A $15 million renovation has connected Memorial Medical Center's radiation oncology and medical oncology departments into one 25,000 square-foot building.

The Memorial Cancer Center first opened in 2005 and has continued to grow and expand, the hospital reports. In the last five years, the center has doubled the number of new patients and added staff and state-of-the-art equipment.

Among the guests of honor Monday were Gov. Susana Martinez — who spoke about treatments her parents received at the center — Dr. Cheryl Willman, CEO of University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center and Dr. William Adler, medical director of Memorial Medical Oncology and Hematology.

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Dr. William Adler speaks about the expansion of the Memorial Cancer Center Monday June 11, 2018.(Photo: Josh Bachman/Sun-News)

Adler brought art to the center, noting that 61 pieces on loan from nearly 20 local artists grace the wall.

"We understand the healing qualities of art and the powerful ways that art can affect a person’s sense of well-being," he said in a news release.

Memorial Cancer Center is located along Telshor Boulevard, to the south of Memorial Medical Center.